ROMANESCA MOULIN-A-VENT 2004 AC (Guy et Ferréole Chastel) Beaujolais VC: This is a great barbecue wine with its pretty raspberry, floral and spice notes. It's dry with a very good structure and supple tannins. You could even lay this down for a couple of years to see how well quality Gamay can improve in a cellar. Medium-bodied with a long finish. My note: Not all beaujolais is nouveau, the simple red released in November. This is one of my favorite producers from Beaujolais who consistently makes lovely wines. Aromas of juicy red fruit and medium-body. Drink with salmon, chicken, pork and grilled vegetables. 687228 (D = dry) 750 mL $21.95 Score: 88/100.

'BARON DE LYSSART' ROUGE 2003 AC Gaillac (Vignerons de Rabastens) VC: A blend of Duras, Syrah and Braucol. Light ruby color leads to an intriguing nose including elderberry, currant, coffee, mustard greens and vanilla. It is dry, ripe, supple and very creamy. Enjoy with grilled gourmet sausages or chicken burgers on the BBQ. My note: Great red for the money. Juicy and full bodied.
682740 (D) 750 mL $13.95 Score: 88/100. Best Value Red Wine

MAS DES BRESSADES 'CUVÉE TRADITION' ROSÉ 2005 AC Costières de Nîmes
(Cyril Marès, Prop.-Récolt.) Rhone Valley VC: Mas des Bressades uses the superior saignée method here. Partway through the process of making a fully red wine, a portion of the juice is 'bled off' for this rosé. What we get is a wine with more impactful flavors than conventional versions. Enjoy with grilled prawns or steamed mussels. MY note: Gorgeous for the money. One of the best rosés year after year. Redolent of strawberries and raspberries and summer dreams. 950576 (D) 750 mL $11.95 Score: 89/100. Favorite Red/Rosé Wine

95-100 Brilliant, Exceptional
90-94 Excellent, Superb
89.5 Hovering on the doorstep of excellence, better than very good
85-89 Very Good
80-84 Good (still worth buying and drinking)
79 and below Average to poor (I don't include these in the newsletter due to space constraints)

Favorite Wines: This isn't necessarily the wine with the highest score, as high scores go to the wines that best typify their region and style. Rather my favorite wines are just that: the ones that appeal to me most personally and to my own taste.

Best Value Wines: Not necessarily the cheapest wine, but the one that maximizes the price-quality ratio. (Although I don't always go by strict mathematical ratios on this either, but rather what seems to me to represent tremendous value.)

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